No conversation about Abraham Lincoln would be complete without talking about Hannibal Hamlin!

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Unless you’re from Maine, you probably didn’t hear too much in your history class about Abraham Lincoln’s first Vice President. Hannibal Hamlin came from a distinguished New England family and stood firm against the expansion of slavery in the territories. It only made sense for a Midwestern Republican like Lincoln to join forces with a New Englander (after all, the Republicans weren’t going to get very much support from the South in 1860). And, what caused him not to serve as Lincoln’s running mate four years later?

So, why don’t we hear very much about Hamlin? After all, he only missed the Presidency by a few weeks.

In this episode we discuss:

*Hamlin’s New England Upbringing

*His Kids Were Cousins (Yeah, it’s totally legit, too)

*His Role in Maine Politics

*The Example He Sought to Set by Going to War While He Was Vice President